EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON EFFECT OF TYRE CHIPS AND LIME IN IMPROVEMENT OF STRENGTH PROPERTIES OF EXPANSIVE SOILS

Soil stabilization is a process which enhances the engineering strength properties of expansive soils such as compaction characteristics (Maximum Dry Density), bearing capacity etc. These properties can be achieved by controlled compaction using the mechanical equipment's or addition of suitable stabilizers (admixtures) like cement, fly ash, lime etc. But in recent years, cost of these additives especially cement are also become expensive. To overcome these uncertainties, this opened the door widely for introducing the other kinds of soil stabilizers like Tyre chips. These tyre chips are cheap in cost and rather they are available abundantly in market. The objective of this research paper is to investigate the effect of Tyre Chips and Lime (constant percentage) on the strength properties of expansive soil with high compressibility (CH). This research study involves the investigation of the effect of Tyre Chips and Lime on clayey soil to which a series of Standard Proctor Tests and California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests are conducted on both virgin soil and reinforced soil with varying percentages of Tyre Chips (4%, 8%, 12% and 16%) and Lime (10%). The results from this study reflect that with addition of increase in the percentage of Tyre Chips and Constant Lime proportion, engineering properties of clayey soil such as Maximum Dry Density (MDD) and CBR values are also increased significantly comparing with the properties of virgin soil. The quantum of improvement in the engineering properties of soils depends on the type of soil, percentage of tyre chips and lime as it is observed from this study that, maximum values of MDD and CBR values are obtained at 12% of tyre chips and 10% lime for given clayey soil.